3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge {grain free}

Rich and creamy, satisfying and full of flavor, with the familiar hot cereal texture we all love, our 3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge is dairy free, grain free, paleo and vegan as well as nutrient rich. It is the ideal healthy quick breakfast—especially during cold winter months, but perfect to start any day!

Did you ever wonder what Stacy at Wicked Good Kitchen actually eats from day to day? Does she really live a healthy lifestyle while creating so many sweet treat recipes? Ha! I thought you might.

Well, the answer is yes. But, I am far from perfect.

The truth is, I love to bake—whether it is developing recipes that are dairy free, gluten free, grain free, vegan or traditional, I am driven…to bake.

Why do I love to bake so much, you ask?

To put it in the simplest of terms, I enjoy the science-y stuff associated with baking as well as the challenge. (Believe me, I have had my fair share of kitchen disasters with recipe testing!) The goal, however, is to make others happy through my baking and recipes. Just ask The Big Lug. 😉

In addition, I enjoy challenging myself to create unique recipes that anyone can master. This is why you will often see tutorials with many photos, such as my latest for Best Ever American Buttercream, as well as several tips listed in the Notes section of my recipes. They are there to help you out in the kitchen as well as offer variations. In fact, mindful authors that actually cared if you were successful with their recipes in your own kitchen wrote my favorite cookbooks. I am no different and do my best to be mindful of others and their special diets—without being preachy about my own.

With all of that said, I will do my best to include more healthy vegan baking recipes here on the blog that I actually eat. I started off the New Year with my favorite healthy juice recipe, Pink Lady Skinny Detox Power Juice, and it was a very good start in the healthy recipe department. That recipe has been pinned nearly 10K times in one month, so I know that my readers and followers would like to see more.

This may be a good time to share with my newer readers that I have been working behind the scenes writing a healthy baking cookbook. It is a project that is near and dear to my heart.

About This Fabulous Paleo Porridge

While the days are still quite chilly in some parts of the country and somewhere in our world right now, I thought it would be a good time to share my favorite healthy grain free and vegan porridge recipe with, y’all. It is so good!

In fact, I wanted to share this recipe with you last week. But, as I mentioned in a recent post, it was a zany week here at Wicked Good Kitchen and I simply could not find the pretty blue and white plate you see under the small white stoneware bowl in my photos. The plate comes from Williams-Sonoma (no longer available) and I just knew it would match, but not in a “matchy-matchy” kind of way (as Tim Gunn would say, haha!), my recent blue and white prop acquisitions from Sur la Table from their Antique Floral Collection.

Well, as you can imagine by looking at my photos, I only wanted that specific plate and no other plate would do! And, yes…just in case you were wondering, it turned out to be true. The Big Lug did hide my plate! He didn’t do it on purpose, of course. But since he is 6’5” tall, he placed them too high on a shelf in my prop room and then placed something lightweight on top. When I asked him where they were, he just smiled his Cheshire Cat grin when he handed me the four-piece set. A true sign of guilt, people! 😉

But, let’s get back to this porridge.

Not only is our 3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge incredibly satisfying as hot breakfast cereals are, it is nutrient rich. Just think of all the good you are doing for your body when you sit down to enjoy your own warm bowl of wicked porridge goodness.

Dress up your porridge any way you wish. In the ingredients section of the recipe, I have included some suggestions as to how you can flavor, sweeten and top your bowl of porridge. My favorite is shown in the photos…fresh berries! I just cannot resist them.

Meanwhile, I promise that everyone in your family who loves Cream of Wheat or oatmeal for breakfast will love this porridge. It is everything you dreamed a hot cereal could be!

Filled with fiber, nutrients, and healthy cancer-fighting Omega 3 oil from freshly ground golden flaxseed, as well as being totally dairy free and grain free, this fabulous healthy vegan porridge pulls together in just 3 minutes. It satisfies the most urgent need for a hot cereal breakfast to start the day due to the incredible flavor profile and texture. Even the appearance and aroma are appealing. Naturally flavor and sweeten, then top your Coconut-Almond Porridge any way you want from our list of healthy suggestions.

Our 3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge is the ideal all-natural hot cereal breakfast to provide energy and nourishment while being kid-friendly. It’s a hot breakfast that you don’t have to wait for the weekend to enjoy because it is speedy-quick to prepare. It is also the perfect hot cereal to serve overnight guests for a light weekend breakfast or part of a large brunch.

My friends, you will be amazed at how much you will enjoy this porridge. Try it soon. It will make getting up in the mornings easy. You will not regret it.

Bon appétit!

P.S. RECIPE UPDATE (06/14/2016): This recipe has been updated to specify Organic Raw Whole Golden Flaxseed, such as Bob’s Red Mill® brand, to be ground freshly just before using in the recipe. (In my kitchen, I achieve this by using a clean coffee grinder dedicated to grinding dried herbs and spices.) This is important as golden (or brown) flaxseed should NOT be stored after it has been ground because its beneficial oils (Omega-3 for heart health, immune support, cancer-fighting properties and the promotion of healthy hair, skin and nails) become rancid quite rapidly. In fact, the breakdown of flaxseed oil happens within just 15 minutes of it being exposed to heat, air and/or light. This means that packaged ground flaxseed found in retail and health food stores should be avoided if optimum nutrition and overall good health and beauty are each a priority. If you do elect to go with conveniently packaged ground flaxseed, be aware of the fact that you will be consuming it for the benefit of fiber only and any rancid oils present are not ideal for good human health and nutrition and, in fact, could be harmful to your health. Do your research on this as I have. As Bob, of Bob’s Red Mill®, would similarly say, “To your good health, my friends!”

RECIPE UPDATE (06/16/2016): My dear readers, this recipe has been updated once again. After learning about the pasteurization process of U.S. grown almonds (mandated by the FDA as of September 2007), that depletes (strips clean!) raw organic almonds of nutrition (beneficial vitamins and enzymes), and further learning that Blue Diamond® Almonds, used to make Honeyville® brand Blanched Almond Meal, uses PPO or propylene oxide (a volatile and highly toxic substance and known carcinogen) to pasteurize their almonds (vs. heat or steam).

RECIPE UPDATE (07-26-2017): Dear readers, once again I am updating this recipe. In lieu of purchasing raw organic almonds directly from the growers in California, I am now recommending Raw Organic Unpasteurized Almonds such as the Spanish Valencia Almonds imported by Terrasoul Superfoods, LLC, based in Fort Worth, Texas, and available at Amazon.com. This is not an affiliate link but a helpful link to my readers: Terrasoul Superfoods Raw Unpasteurized Organic Almonds (Sproutable). I have been buying these nutritious almonds for over a year now to make fresh Homemade Almond Milk, to use in recipes and to snack on. My husband and I have been more than happy and satisfied with this brand. I hope you will give them a try. Once again, “To your good health, my friends!”

3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge {grain free}

Description

Rich and creamy, satisfying and full of flavor, with the familiar hot cereal texture we all love, our 3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge is dairy free, grain free, paleo and vegan as well as nutrient rich. It is the ideal healthy quick breakfast—especially during cold winter months, but perfect to start any day!

Recipe Notes

Variations:

Extra-Creamy Coconut Milk Variation: When homemade almond milk is not available, I like to make this extra-creamy coconut milk variation with canned coconut milk. Simply substitute the 3/4 cup almond milk called for in the recipe with 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk and 1/4 cup filtered or purified (distilled) water. (Oh, so good!) Just cover and refrigerate any leftover coconut milk for making porridge the next morning.

Stove Top Directions: In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the almond milk to a simmer. This should take about 1 minute or so. Remove from heat, carefully add remaining ingredients and stir until well combined. Return saucepan to heat and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until softened, thickened and heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in favorite flavorings and natural sweetener. Transfer porridge to serving bowl. Top as desired with favorite fruits, berries, dried fruit and/or sliced almonds, or other nuts and seeds and coconut flakes. If desired, drizzle with additional maple syrup and almond or coconut milk. Serve immediately.

Tips:

For Thicker Porridge: Cook for an additional 30 to 60 seconds.

To Freshly Grind Whole Golden Flaxseed: Simply use a clean coffee grinder to achieve finely ground golden flaxseed meal. A coffee grinder dedicated to grinding dried herbs and spices as well as other ingredients is a very helpful tool in the kitchen.

Time Saver: To save time in the kitchen on busy weekday mornings, simply pre-measure the dry ingredients and keep handy, covered in a prep bowl, on the countertop near the cooktop range.

About Stacy

Stacy Bryce is a recipe developer and member of the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals). Her passion is developing original conventional baking recipes as well as special diet recipes to include dairy-free, gluten-free and grain-free. You can follow Stacy at Pinterest.

This is such a great recipe, Stacey. I’ve never thought to replace oats with almond meal for breakfast, that’s such a great grain-free idea! I would love a big bowl of this for breakfast. The coconut and almond combo sound amazing!

That’s so exciting about your cookbook! I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy, because although I don’t follow a paleo diet strictly, I love healthy eating. 🙂 And I can see why you held out for the plate…it’s beautiful underneath that bowl of porridge! I love eating breakfasts like this, and adding that coconut and berries to the porridge sounds even more delicious. Pinned!marcie recently posted…Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Waffles

I didn’t know that you are paleo or that you have been working to create a paleo baking cookbook! How amazing! I can’t wait to devour each page!!! This recipe looks delicious! Love the combo of almond meal and coconut!Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking recently posted…Mile High Apple Pie

Stacy, I can’t wait for you book. I am sure it will be one of a kind and will be a winner, cause it comes from your heart. I really hope you are feeling much much better now.
The dumpling sounds really good, I’m sure Wolfgang will be lucky to taste it.
Hubs here loves porridge, he grew up eating rice porridge. So, this one with the coconut and almond sound really tasty and yum. Will definitely try it out.
Happy Week my lovely friend.Ash-foodfashionparty recently posted…Tandoori Fish and Yucca Chips

Thank you, Ash! But, LOL…about Chef Wolfgang Puck! I just had to mention him because of his ethnic background and for having one wicked recipe for Chicken Paprikash with his incredible dumplings! 😉 You and your hubs would love this porridge. I hope you try it soon. Have a wonderful week, my friend!

Hi Stacy,we are so happy and excited for your new cookbook…it will definitely be amazing.Personally we feel the people who cook to make others happy and bring a smile on their face are the best people….so irrespective of your book getting delayed by a few months….it is going to be the best book with the best recipes in that field of cooking….thanks so much for ever inspiring.This coconut almonds porridge will taste oh so good for a comforting breakfast….and that blue-white plate really looks beautiful,thanks 🙂Kumar’s Kitchen recently posted…A Festive Treat : Chena Bara Matar Curry

Oh gosh, where has this porridge been all winter!!!! It’s so perfect! I have been wanting hot cereal now for so long but begrudgingly eating my eggs all winter long. I’m so ready to switch up my breakfast routine!Nora (A Clean Bake) recently posted…10 Ways To Use Chia Seeds (That Aren’t Pudding)

This porridge looks wonderful! Have you made on the stove top? I don’t have a microwave (don’t want one), and just wondered if you’d tried cooking it the “old-fashioned” way. I love the ingredient list, so I’d like to try it. Thanks!

Thank you for writing and for the compliments, Mary! To answer your important question… Yes, I have made this porridge on the stove top. I did it this morning just so I could update the recipe to include Stove Top Directions for you. 🙂 The directions have been added to the recipe in the Notes section at the bottom. Once again, thank you for writing. I hope you will enjoy this recipe. It’s scrumptious!

Thank you so much, Stacy! I made it this morning and it was really delicious! I love to have hot “cereal” occasionally, and it’s nice to have a paleo / grain-free version that tastes so good! Thanks, too, for the update on stovetop cooking. I really appreciate it!

Thank you for writing and sharing your positive feedback, MaryClaire! My pleasure. I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe as much as I do and I had fun testing the recipe for the stovetop. 🙂 This porridge is especially nice during the fall and winter months, but I do enjoy it in the spring and summer as well to switch up breakfast. Thanks again for dropping by and have a great weekend!

Snuggling on the couch eating a bowl of this right now. Wow! It is absolutely delicious and was simple to make. I topped mine with peaches, raisins, and maple syrup. I have a feeling this will be my winter staple!

Thank you for taking the time to comment, Kelsey! I’m so glad you enjoyed this special, healthy porridge. It is a staple in my diet and I enjoy switching it up seasonally. I love your peach and raisins idea with pure maple syrup. Wow! Perfect for the end of summer and beginning of fall. Next, you simply must try sautéed apples with your raisins and syrup. I sometimes add some crushed toasted walnuts or pecans as well. It’s to die for! Thanks again for dropping by. Enjoy!

Just made this delicious breakfast this morning. Freaking awesome!!! It over flowed in my microwave at both cooking points but I think that was because my microwave is high wattage, so user error, not recipe 🙂 Perfect for breakfast but I can see making this as a quick dessert- tastes like comfort food. Thanks for the simple, but great recipe.

You’re gonna need a bigger bowl. 😉 Sorry, couldn’t help it! I just love using that Jaws reference… this time, with the “bowl” in lieu of a “bigger boat”. Thanks for taking the time to write and let us all know how you enjoyed this porridge, Kirsten. It is quite phenomenal… both comforting and satisfying as much as or more so than any grain porridge. This porridge ROCKED my paleo world! It’s a great way to change up a healthy breakfast whilst feeling like such an indulgence. I’ve been enjoying it nearly every morning now since the weather has turned cooler. When I am out of fresh homemade almond milk, I use 1/2 cup full fat coconut milk and 1/4 cup filtered or purified water. Yum! Next time, try this porridge with sautéed cinnamon apples with raisins or dried cranberries and coarse chopped toasted almonds, pecans and/or walnuts or your favorite seeds like pepitas. Crazy and insanely good. So true about having this porridge for dessert! Who needs Crème Brûlée? 🙂 Thanks again for dropping by and enjoy your weekend!

Hi there, Victoria! My pleasure. To answer your question, I don’t see why you couldn’t substitute coconut flour for the almond meal. However, I have not tested it in this recipe. If you are up for experimenting, just keep in mind how thirsty of a flour coconut flour is. They are not equal substitutes. So, go light with it and see how it works out for you. Thanks for dropping by and good luck with your coconut flour experiment with paleo porridge! 🙂

Thank you, Jess! My pleasure. This recipe for paleo hot cereal rocks. So nutritious, too! I eat it several times a week and just love it. Since I use golden flax seed meal to create a slurry as an egg replacer for egg-free recipes, I just knew it would work to make paleo grain free cereals thick and creamy…just like hot cereals made from grains. For the holidays or a special breakfast treat, try this hot porridge recipe with sautéed cinnamon apples on top with toasted pecans or walnuts and raisins or unsweetened dried cranberries that have been plumped. Drizzle on pure maple syrup and full fat coconut milk. AMAZING! Thanks again for dropping by and… Happy Holidays!

Suggest you do your research. Golden flax meal loses 80% of its nutritional value with 24 hours of being ground. Also the oil goes rancid quickly so if you’re using it for anything other than fiber content, you should grind your own.

Thank you, Jack! I greatly appreciate the reminder to update this recipe to be truly “nutrient-rich”. In fact, I had just learned this important fact about flaxseed oil, and how quickly it starts and becomes rancid after grinding flaxseed, this past week when reviewing The Budwig Protocol for my aunt to treat her cancer. Also, this morning, I updated the recipe again after learning just yesterday about the FDA mandated pasteurization of raw California Almonds®. Then, I was aghast to learn that my Honeyville® Blanched Almond Flour, made with Blue Diamond® almonds, is made from almonds that are pasteurized with highly toxic PPO which is also a known carcinogen. Once again, thank you for taking the time to write and share your knowledge with me and fellow readers. We all greatly appreciate it more than you know! 🙂

Great recipe! I changed it a little by using 1/2 cup hot water and 1/4 coconut milk. I also blended everything in the Vitamix first, then added the liquids and blended more. Topped with blueberries. Delicious!

Thank you, Elizabeth! I am beyond thrilled that you enjoy this recipe as much as we do at our house and we’ll definitely try your spin on it. 🙂 However, please read my P.S. message (at the end of the article section of my post) that contains two VERY IMPORTANT recipe updates with regard to the ingredients – golden flaxseed and almond meal – for good nutrition. Making these two changes will truly make this recipe nutrient-rich. Thanks again, Elizabeth, for taking the time to write and share your experience with this recipe for 3-Minute Coconut-Almond Porridge. It truly is a healthy and fabulous hot cereal breakfast treat!

Hi there, Shanelle! Thank you for writing. To answer your question… originally, the recipe did call for “almond flour/meal”. However, I no longer prepare my porridge using this ingredient because last spring I learned that ALL almonds grown in the U.S. are now pasteurized – either by gassing, roasting or steaming that depletes them of nutrients (important vitamins and enzymes) – that is, unless you purchase almonds directly from the grower. Therefore, I now purchase imported raw organic almonds (via Amazon.com) and then blanch and finely grind them myself. Since most of the almonds I purchase go into making homemade almond milk, I try to reserve some for this special porridge recipe that I crave quite often. You definitely could use almond flour, but I strongly recommend against it if good health is a priority for you. Also, I highly recommend the stove top method for preparing this porridge (which can found in the Recipe Notes section of the recipe) rather than using the microwave. In addition, as always, fresh, organic and homemade is THE BEST! For further reading about the mandated FDA pasteurization of almonds, please read my P.S. message for the recipe updates (at the end of the article in this post) as well as my response to reader Jack (above). Thanks again for writing and I hope that I have answered your question thoroughly and completely. Meanwhile, I hope you will enjoy this scrumptious recipe for Coconut-Almond Porridge. Wishing you health and happiness as well as a great week ahead! 🙂

Welcome to My Kitchen

My name is Stacy. I'm a recipe developer, food writer, baker and member of the IACP. I love to concoct tasty baked creations to share with others—both traditional and gluten-free. Welcome to my Wicked Good Kitchen!